u
go and tell them that you've been telegraphed for--cabled is the proper
word--or I tell them the truth."

"That'll settle you then," said Mr. Kemp.

"No more than the other would," retorted the young man, "and it'll come
cheaper. One thing I'll take my oath of, and that is I won't give you
another farthing; but if you do as I tell you I'll give you a quid for
luck. Now, think it over."

Mr. Kemp thought it over, and after a vain attempt to raise the promised
reward to five pounds, finally compounded for two, and went off to bed
after a few stormy words on selfishness and ingratitude. He declined to
speak to his host at breakfast next morning, and accompanied him in the
evening with the air of a martyr going to the stake. He listened in
stony silence to the young man's instructions, and only spoke when the
latter refused to pay the two pounds in advance.

The news, communicated in halting accents by Mr. Kemp, was received with
flattering dismay. Mrs. Bradshaw refused to believe her ears, and it was
only after the information had been repeated and confirmed by Mr. Wright
that she understood.

"I must go," said Mr. Kemp. "I've spent over eleven pounds cabling
to-day; but it's all no good."

"But you're coming back?" said Mr. Hills.

"O' course I am," was the reply. "George is the only relation I've got,
and I've got to look after him, I suppose. After all, blood is thicker
than water."

"Hear, hear!" said Mrs. Bradshaw, piously.

"And there's you and Bella," continued Mr. Kemp; "two of the best that
ever breathed."

The ladies looked down.

"And Charlie Hills; I don't know--I don't know _when_ I've took such a
fancy to anybody as I have to 'im. If I was a young gal--a single young
gal--he's--the other half," he said, slowly, as he paused--"just the one I
should fancy. He's a good-'arted, good-looking----"

"Draw it mild," interrupted the blushing Mr. Hills as Mr. Wright bestowed
a ferocious glance upon the speaker.

"Clever, lively young fellow," concluded Mr. Kemp. "George!"

"Yes," said Mr. Wright.

"I'm going now. I've got to catch the train for Southampton, but I don't
want you to come with me. I prefer to be alone. You stay here and cheer
them up. Oh, and before I forget it, lend me a couple o' pounds out o'
that fifty I gave you last night. I've given all my small change away."

He looked up and met Mr. Wright's eye; the latter, too affected to speak,
took out the money and pas